Friday, August 10, 2007

OK. kids. I'm off to the Great Sky sesshin somewhere way the hell out in Minnesota. I won't be in the reach of Internets or 9/11 conspiracy theorists for a week. So y'all enjoy yourselves! On Saturday the 18th there's s'posta be an interview with me on a show called Coffee, Cigarettes and Gnosis. So go there and see if it really shows up. The list of forthcoming appearances is below. Also note that on Sept. 12th I'm doing some kinda TV show called Elevision in downtown Boulder and they want folks to show up by 7 to be in the audience. It's at Trilogy, 2017 13th St. in downtown Boulder.

The Great Sage of India conveyed True Mind from West to East.Among human beings are wise ones and fools But in Truth there are no Patriarchs, north or south.From the clear, bright subtle SourceTributary streams flow through the darkness.Attaching to things is delusionAnd meeting the Absolute is not yet enlightenment.Within and without relate, yet are independent,Working in different ways, but together.Form differs in substance and appearance.Sounds distinguish pleasure from pain.In darkness, high and middle merge;But in light all things are revealed.The four elements return to the SourceLike a child to its mother.Fire's hot, wind moves,Water's wet, earth's hard.Eyes see, ears hear,Nose smells, tongue tastes salt and sour.Each is independent While in accord with its relations.The root gives rise to many leavesYet root and branch return to One.High and low are relative.In light there is darknessConfronted, it cannot be fathomed.Within darkness there is light One-sided, it cannot be found.Light and darkness are pairedLike a foot before and a foot behind when walkingEach thing has intrinsic valueRelated to other things by function and place.Absolute and ordinary life fit togetherLike a box and its cover.Absolute works with relativeLike two arrows meeting in mid-air.Hear and know the Great Reality.Do not judge by your own standards.Overlooking the Way right before youHow can you see it where you're walking?Enlightened, the Path is neither near nor far.Deluded, you are mountains and rivers awayWith respect I say to you who seek the goalDo not waste a moment, night or day.

1. The genius of mind of the Great Sage of India [Buddha] came East [to China] from the West [India] in secret.2. Man fundamentally is both clever and stupid but in the Way there is no Northern or Southern teacher.3. The Mysterious Source [Buddha Nature] is bright, clear and pure but the branching streams flow on in darkness invisible to the mind's eye.4. Clinging to transient phenomena is the primary illusion, yet even to be bound to Buddhist principles is not Enlightenment.5. The Outer [Objective] and Inner [Subjective] components of the universe are inter-related and yet independent of one another.6. They relate and work together despite their differences in function and position.7. The outer form of things blinds us to their true nature, just as sounds may cause joy or sorrow in different people.8. But the Dark [true nature] unites all teachings, and the Light [true nature] distinguishes clear and obscure scriptures.9. The Four Elements return to their Source like a child reaching its mother10. Fire is hot, wind moves to and fro, water is wet and the earth is firm and strong.11. The eyes see colours and the ears hear sounds, the nose smells scents and the tongue tastes salty or sour.12. Yet in all this diversity of form [outer] there is unity of essence [inner] just as many leaves spread from the same root.13. Root and branch [cause and effect] must derive from the permanent reality. Though we say honourable and humble they are just words with no meanings.14. At its heart the light [outer] is dark [inner], but do not seek this darkness.15. At its heart the dark [inner] is light [outer], but do not seek this light.16. The light [outer] and the dark [inner] form a pair, like one foot ahead and one behind when walking.17. The myriad things [of the universe] have their own intrinsic values and keep their own functions and positions.18. Transient phenomena and the permanent fit together like a box and its lid; the Absolute and the Relative operate like two arrows meeting point-to-point in mid-air.19. Reading these words you must have reached the permanent, so do not set up rules and standards to judge life.20. Though you do not see the Way, you are already on it. Going by foot or horse [ordinary life] you can know the Way.21. When you walk on the Way it is neither near nor far, but if you are deluded in heart then you are certainly mountains and rivers away from it.22. With respect I say to you, reflect [meditate] on purity and seek a true Master; if you want to attain Enlightenment, then do not waste your time in vain.

*********

The Identity of Relative and Absolute

The mind of the Great Sage of India was intimately conveyed from West to East. Among human beings are wise ones and fools But in the Way there is no northern and southern Ancestor. The subtle source is clear and bright; the tributary streams flow through the darkness. To be attached to things is illusion; to encounter the absolute is not yet enlightenment. Each and all the subjective and objective spheres are related, and at the same time independent. Related and yet working differently. Though each keeps its own place, form makes the character and appearance different. Sounds distinguish comfort and discomfort. The dark makes all words one; the brightness distinguishes good and bad phrases. The four elements return to their own nature as a child to its mother. Fire is hot, wind moves, water is wet, earth hard. Eyes see, ears hear, nose smells, tongue tastes the salt and sour. Each is independent of the other. Cause and effect must return to the great reality. The words high and low are used relatively. Within light there is darkness, but do not try to understand that darkness. Within darkness there is light, but do not look for that light Light and darkness are a pair like the foot before and the foot behind in walking. Each thing has its own intrinsic value and is related to everything else in function and position. Ordinary life fits the absolute as a box and its lid. The absolute works together with the relative like two arrows meeting in mid air. Reading words you should grasp the great reality. Do not judge by any standards. If you do not see the Way, You do not see it even as you walk on it. When you walk the Way it is not near, it is not far., If you are deluded, you are mountains and rivers away from it. I respectfully say to those who wish to be enlightened Do not waste your time by night or day!

monkish sage with his ink brushsagacious monkey with his laptopit's absolutely relative

come here to learn something and it's all fumin' funcome here to fun around and someone's tryin' ta learn ya somethin'with a kick to the chops or a hot link to obscurity

I swear it's dukka dukka everywhere

But what if it's really not?What if it's a pot luck party and everyone brought their own odd dishes made from what ever was on hand in their pantry at the time?

What if it's panning for gold and there's valuable little glints among all the sand.

You get to decide for yourself how much of what you pile onto your own personal plate,and you get to decide how much of this swishing the water around you want to to, all stooped over for hoursbefore you decide to:

Hey, dude. I just wanted to say that your book hardcore Zen really had an effect on me. Thanks. I had never read a book on buddism before, and I'm so glad that your view was my first exposure to it. Anyway, I find myself re-evaluating my day to day thoughts, feelings, and actions, as a result of the new perspective that you've shown me. Just wanted to say thanks for starting me on what seems like it might be a long journey toward inner peace. P.S. Don't worry, I'm not about to join a monestary because I read your book. If I did that, i think I would be missing one of the main points of your book on how religion is viewed, and how belief can be dangerous. I just wanted to say thanks, because I intend to further explore "the Zen thing", and see what it's all about. P.S.S. Remember the band "flipper"?

"Then again, is the swearing and insulting appropriate? I don't know..."

I think it's very appropriate, for some audiences. But not for others. If it offends you and you don't like it, go read from a more "traditional" teacher. Brad speaks to the modern American. His viewpoint is needed in this world. Time and place to strip away the pretense of politeness.

Does anyone know how to get the most current SG article Brad wrote (Brad Warner's Hardcore Zen: Retreat!!) to come up where it can be read?Usually it can't be accessed for several days (I thought this was a subscriber vs. non subscriber thing, that subscriber's got first dibs and then us lowlies could. But now I wonder...And Daddy's away on retreat and can't fix it...Waaaaaaaaaannhhh

"I think it's very appropriate, for some audiences. But not for others. If it offends you and you don't like it, go read from a more "traditional" teacher."

I am not even slightly offended by Brad as I am actually younger than he is and used to different stuff. Actually, I was questioning the scholars here and contrasting it to the swearing that we all love so much.

@Mysterion:Exactly, it's a pity I miss the best/worst of Mysterion's mental outflow. Don't judge your statements yourself, the stuff you wrote write be of interest anyway unless it's just another link about history revisionism.

Webster's words (in the introduction):"Further, many words and phrases are so offensive, especially to females, as to create a reluctance in young persons to attend Bible classes and schools, in which they are required to read passages which cannot be repeated without a blush; and containing words which, on other occasions, a child could not utter without rebuke."

The Raven ;-) harkens back to flood myths. Noah released a raven and a 2 doves. Ut-Napishtim released a dove, a swallow, and a raven.

Yui Butsu yo Butsu (Only Buddha knows Buddha)

How do you free yourself from the cycles of birth and death?

153 Looking for the maker of this tabernacle,10 I shall have to run through a course of many births, so long as I do not find him; and painful is birth again and again. 154 But now, [Mara] maker of the tabernacle, you have been seen; you shall not make up this tabernacle again. All your rafters are broken, your ridge-pole is sundered; the mind, approaching the Eternal has attained to the extinction of all desires.

wwwAAAAAAAAAAANNHHH!I still can't get at Daddy's latest written article for SG (Brad Warner's Hardcore Zen: Retreat!!).He wrote it and posted it there last Saturday and here it is Thursday and I still can't read itWaaanhh Waaanhh Waannhh

Doesn't anybody know how to do it?

Where's Daddy?

Hasn't he finished his Big Sit yet?

Aren't there any other grown ups who can do it--get it to appear in the public section of SG for us non-paying Brad-avids.

Mysterion, I will be in SF next week before that infamous Burning Man attendance (yes, I promised it to a friend). I consider visiting SFZC, but I am not sure yet. As a European, I usually do not attend Zazen in California, I regret.

We can for sure meet for a coffee if you like to.

I was heading for some Brad Warner coincendence but he is touring on the wrong side of the nation during my stay.

Strange you asked me for Alan Moore. I do like (or love as Americans would phrase it) Alan Moore, even the "weird" stuff like Promethea, but Watchmen remains the story with most impacet ever told to me during my youth. Reminds me to read it again on my flight next week, thanks!

I severely avoid Alan Moore movie adaptions since "League" and "From Hell" even I heard "V" is supposed to be acceptable.

The language of the Church changed from Greek to Latin in the 3rd or 4th century. The Greek word mysterion was sometimes mistranslated to the Latin word sacramentum (secret ceremony), which it is NOT. MYSTERION is Greek for "plan." The mysterious plan for 'our salvation' is clearly stated on lines 153 and 154 of the Dhammapada, "the path of dharma."

There are no secrets, no secret ceremonies, no secret words, no 'new world order' - save for corporatism.

I apologize if my answer seems 'academic,' but your question was worthy of a clear answer. My given name is Charles (Ocha-ryu = Tea in [birds] nest). It would be a VERY long story - related to "The Son of Godzilla," but my Japanese nickname is Mondaijii - 'Son of Problem' (not problem child) used with some degree of warmth. I have a very skeptical mind owing to all the BULLSHIT the local "Blundering Barbarians" (read Xtian cults) tried to shove off on me as a youth. Thus, as a student of Buddhism, if I had a problem with a passage, concept, or explanation, I would say "Dai Mondai!" (Big Problem). This would not stop the class, but alert the master that a deeper delving into the matter was at and. And I would stay and study long after the other students went to their beer-drinking ceremonies.

Zen is toward the Mahayana (compassion) end of the bookshelf. I am much more Theravada (toward the scholarship end of the bookshelf). But Buddhists can be Buddhists, even in sanghas. It is a very WIDE bookshelf.

Koudelka said... >>Mysterion Is there a difference between buddhists and normal people?

Brad and I had a discussion of this off line. I do not speak for Brad.

Speaking for me: There is no difference between Buddhists and people (normal or abnormal).

Buddhists do NOT take converts ;-) All people, it turns out, are born Budhi. It is merely the cultural baggage that is heaped upon us in our youth (and later) that prevents us from growing undeformed to find our natural way. One is not born Hindu, Shinto, Jew, Xtian, or Islamic. That is cultural baggage. When we are born, we literally 'wake up.' Then, layer upon layer of 'the veil' is progressively placed opon our eyes until we are almost completely blind.

Meditation, over time, removes one veil, then another. I was looking for a really revealing academic study on the matter (and will post it later). To cut to the chase - People who meditate are happier.

The language of the Church changed from Greek to Latin in the 3rd or 4th century. The Greek word mysterion was sometimes mistranslated to the Latin word sacramentum (secret ceremony), which it is NOT. MYSTERION is Greek for "plan."

That's actually kinda cool. Up until now, because of the name Mysterion, I kind of pictured you more like this guy.

Koudelka said...1) Is life serious?2) Is it ok to hate people?3) Are you enlightened?

1) You can answer that best for yourself. I do not think one should take 'life' 100% seriously. Life is life, we all get many and in one of them you should avoid increasing the suffering of others.

2) I can't tell you how to act or what to do. Hate is ultimately an inward-directed emotion which is self-destructive in the psychological sense. Sometimes you hear; "Hate the crime, but not the criminal." I disagree. Hate neither the crime nor the criminal. I am NOT saying LOVE the crime or criminal, I am saying make no effort toward committing a crime or becoming a criminal - but HATE? Never!

3) No, far far from it. Just look at the steamer trunks of baggage I tote from place to place! One of my favorite 'sayings of Buddha' is:

A follower ask Buddha how he arrived at Budhi and he said, holding out his hand: If I held the ashes of my many cycles through birth and death, they would be a mountain high.

But then, in the time of Freud and Jung, Zen Buddhism WAS the lunatic fringe. And quite unlike the opinions of Freud (joy) and Jung (young) Zen IS beneficial to the western mind. It's just not beneficial to old threadbare western dogma.

I somewhat view the body as a candle that runs out of fuel. That 'lust for life' is the flame which CAN be transfered to a new candle as the old one flickers its last. As memories are just mapped structures in the old brain and the old brain dies, memories also die. Past-life regression is a kind of parlor game in my thinking. Everyone seems to have been a King, Queen, or saint. Somehow, there are no former chin-wipers from the vomitorium.

All that exists is a collective agreement on 'here' and 'now.' The universe exists only because we observe it (quantum mechanics). We are trapped in time travel with time incrementing (at least at the moment).

We do not manage to die until we extinguish that 'lust' (desire) for life. Thus the goal of our lives is to achieve a true death (nirvana) and not another rebirth be seeing Mara [temptation] as the builder of this tabernacle.

This merely is MY opinion, nothing more.

Sorry, but another story:

A Tenor came onto the stage and sang his heart out.

The audience applauded to excess.

Having no encore, the tenor sang the same aria again.

The audience applauded to excess.

Again, the tenor sang the same aria.

The audience applauded to excess.

"What do you want?" ask the tenor.

A voice in the dark, at the back of the theatre shouted: "Sing it until you sing it RIGHT!"

I think it's the coolest thing in the world that Nishijima appointed you successor.

Sounds more like a colossal headache to me. I remember when my Kung Fu teacher was made successor in his style and all the petty jealousies it unleashed. I don't understand why Brad didn't run the other way.

And one more thing Traleg Rinpoche once said. You have to always think of yourself as a humble student, because if you take any other attitude, you're finished and whatever you say isn't worth a damn.

"I take refuge in Gautama,I take refuge in the Dharma,I take refuge in the sangha."

is the institutionalized or 'refuge' version of:

"I find comfort in that Gautama lived,I find comfort in that Gautama taught (Dharma is 'path' and not 'law'), andI find comfort in the _community_ where the teaching of Gautama is preserved."

Notice, when you swim upstream, things are less dogmatic. And Buddha is NOT yet deified, he is still Gautama.

If you find that chanting discomforting, don't do it. If you find the statue to be a bit of idolitry, then look at it as a distorted photograph and 'just say thanks.' (Domo, nei)

GASSHO is ritualized as a gesture - palms together - in 'prayer.' In fact, it predates Gautama is is merely a polite greeting of recognition - namaste. It means "we are of one name." (All men/beings are brothers/siblings).

Mysterion wrote: Notice, when you swim upstream, things are less dogmatic. And Buddha is NOT yet deified, he is still Gautama.

In at least a few traditions (the three Ch'an-rooted traditions I am familiar with) it's "I take refuge in the Buddha." 'Course Buddha was never "deified" in any of them, so Gautama and Buddha are generally considered interchangable anyway.

namaste. It means "we are of one name." (All men/beings are brothers/siblings).

I thought it meant, "I recognize the holiness in you" or more literally, "I bow to you."

But it is one of those pesky proto-Indo-European words. In earlier Pali Sanskrit Namah means "I trust, or acknowledge [unspoken]"

However, in the absence of a google source, I will say name and namah have the same ancient cognitive root. Ste is cement or a bond. Thus "we are of one name."

That gets ritualized into ""we are of one [named] god."

My days of hanging out with 'cunning linguists' are long past. Yes, they were a conservative lot that, like Noah "titty" Webster, would blush for weeks after I said: "That Heffer is a little broad across the beam." (Translation: "She has a wide ass.")

Of course I would scheme for weeks to turn a phrase for the benefit of rosey cheeks.

It is only because I think chickens might grow in trees and fish might grow in bushes that I consume them. Besides, we go for 'free range' chickens and wild ocean fish. I seriously doubt that Brad eats either.

In Shin Temples, you can even get beef over rice! Perhaps it was the karma of the sacred cow to die in this way.

So, when I got to the Hill Street Center this morning and opened up, there was no one else there. I considered my options and decided to set up the altar and sit alone. While I was setting up four others showed up. I'm so very fond of our little sangha. Good folk.

It turns out Diet Hardcore Zen tastes a lot like Regular Hardcore Zen, but with a grape-y aftertaste.

Finally!!!We get to read the Retreat article on SG.Very good article. Written before he left.Written before he sat this time, based on other sittings.It is curious to me. That first sesshin is quite something, huge, in fact. But going back for a second, for a third for a subsequent, is almost harder in some ways.Even though the benefit is undisputable--who would--why? Though I have to admit once a year sounds about right to me.

Brad sorry to break in on conversation, 1000 pardons...but i wanted to relate something to you.

i just sent this to a friend....

whilst i am thinking about and i wanted to share this with you.in Hardcore Z, Brad is talking about our cultures facinationwith celebrity....and his observation that celebrities have found something fundamentally true by practicing their craft, art, or athletic ability. He talks about coming off stage w/ a buzz. From page 104.....

'but the level of a person's celebrity status has no bearing on how truely balanced they are in their lives. Yet pretty much all of the world's famous people are famous because they have pursued some kind of artistic or athletic endeavor to the point where when they do their thing, they exhibit some truely remarkable signs of the balanced state revered in Buddhism'

I have understood this and actually felt it at times since the late 1970's. For the longest, i had no idea what it was, and since i started studying Buddhism, i recognised it, although i wasn't sure...in that i had never heard anyone else talk about it, nor had i had verification from an outside source. I remember talking to sangha people about this...and being made to feel that i was so off the mark, and it was MY ego talking;which to me at the time seemed reasonable. But, i knew i was experiencing something different from my everyday, walking around. going to the grocery store existence.

when i read this passage last nite, i had to stop and think...it was like 'eureka' just for a moment. Mostly in simple recognition.

I had a little trouble, but eventually found the Retreat SG post here.

Keishin, traffic and parking means we all missed the movie -- I'm sorry we got split up. I didn't realize until too late that we didn't have your cell number.

For anyone interested and in LA, two of our group are in a band called Pet Stove and are playing tonight (Sunday) at the Airliner at 2419 N. Broadway LA, CA 90031. The show's at 8 PM, costs $8, and the Airliner is 21 and over. You can check them out at myspace/petstove.

Well, I just got back from seeing Pet Stove, and they rocked! Kind of a girl group sound (their two vocalists are female, and babes at that) with a hard edge. I couldn't make out the lyrics, but the music and the song titles were great: "I Hate You And Want You To Die" and "Parking In My Neighborhood Is Like A Chastity Belt To Me."

I asked about the band name, and the bassist told me that when they were coming up with a name, one of them had a tiny accordion that, when folded up, looked like a tiny stove. Not "the size you'd cook a pet in" but "the size your pet would use." Then he gave me that bullshit answer that "it can mean anything you want it to." Freakin' musicians.